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Potential for Increased Stormwater Runoff
<br /> The Hawaii Clean Water Branch platform shows recurring brown water advisories for the
<br /> Punalu`u coastline, linked to heavy rain events that result in stormwater runoff. This runoff
<br /> incudes potentially overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter,
<br /> dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris (Hawai`i CWB). These events
<br /> pose threats to human health and to the nearshore and freshwater ecosystems of Punalu`u. Under
<br /> projected climatic change these high intensity rain events are expected to increase'. Increasing
<br /> the number of anthropogenic, low-permeable surfaces through development and increasing the
<br /> amount of human-generated waste alongside anticipated high-frequency and high-intensity rain
<br /> events poses great risk to the linked human community and nearshore environment health.
<br /> Increased Photopollution
<br /> Photopollution is well-documented to have detrimental impacts on shore species including
<br /> seabirds' and sea turtles. In particular, Punalu`u provides one of the only remaining nesting
<br /> habitats for the endangered Hawaiian hawksbill sea turtle (honu`ea). Loss of nesting habitat,
<br /> predation, and poaching have reduced hawksbill turtle populations to critically low levels (NPS
<br /> 2020). Artificial lights have been shown to attract and disorient nesting females and hatchlings,
<br /> leading them away from the water where they become stranded and die (NPS 2020). The SMA
<br /> notes that hawksbill turtles "sometimes" nests at Punalu`u (pg.10), attempting to downplay the
<br /> significance of this site in the reproductive biology of this species, when sources show that fewer
<br /> than 20 females nest a year(NPS 2020). This is a reflection rather, of the number of nesting
<br /> females and the quality of their nesting habitats'. This problem of increased light pollution, on
<br /> behalf of predominantly non-resident visitors, is not addressed in the SMA,nor can it be
<br /> mitigated. The language that the SMA uses to talk about endangered, highly valued species and
<br /> places in Hawaii exhibits a disregard on behalf of the developer for the land and people of Ka`u.
<br /> Inappropriate Coastal Management Area
<br /> In their designation of lands for conservation purposes, the SMA states that "the Applicant has
<br /> not yet determine(d) the best method towards committing these lands towards preservation, but
<br /> at the very least, it could be accomplished as a conservation easement, with proper resource
<br /> management that also takes into account coastal recreational and cultural practices" (pg. 8).
<br /> Historically, privatized and government driven conservation has led to the forced removal and
<br /> long-term separation of Native peoples from their traditional gathering grounds (both here in
<br /> Hawaii and across Indigenous worlds)'. This is an ongoing issue on island even with "friendly"
<br /> organizations such as the National Park(e.g. Kalapana) which have restricted through their
<br /> policies,Native Hawaiian access and use. It is insulting and unacceptable to vision conservation-
<br /> 'Fandrich,K.M.,Elison Timm,O.,Zhang,C.,and Giambelluca,T.W. 2021.Dynamical downscaling of near-term
<br /> (2026-2035)climate variability and change for the Main Hawaiian Islands.JGR Atmospheres.DOI:
<br /> 10.1029/2021 JD035684
<br /> a Friswold,B.,Idle,J.L.,Learned,J.,Penniman,J.,Bolosan,T.,Cotin,J.,Young,L.,and Price,M.R.2023.From
<br /> colony to fallout:artificial lights pose risk to seabird fledglings far from their natal colonies.Conservation Science
<br /> and Practice.DOI: 10.1111/csp2.13000
<br /> 5 Meagher,K.M.2020.Monitoring of the Critically Endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle on Hawaii Island.Thesis.
<br /> University of Hawaii Hilo.
<br /> 6 McGuire,G.2023. Indigenous Ecology on an`Oiwi Coast.Dissertation.University of Hawaii Manoa.
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